Thirsty in the Desert
By Dallas Paetzold
Thursday, December 8, 2016
If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water. John 7:37-38 NASB
In Leviticus 23, God introduced seven feasts for the Israelites to follow, and the Jewish people still observe these today. The last of these feasts, the Feast of Tabernacles, serves the purpose to encourage future generations to know that God had the sons of Israel live in tents when He brought them out from the land of Egypt.
At the Feast of Tabernacles, during Jesus’ time, the priests observed a water ritual. On each of the seven days of this feast, the priests dipped water from the pool of Siloam, brought the water to the altar, and poured it out as an offering to the Lord. This water procession was celebrated with great rejoicing.
On the seventh and last day of the feast, the priests circled the altar seven times and then poured out the water on the altar. Probably because of the significance of this feast and its ritual, John takes the effort to record the setting for a statement Jesus makes in John 7:37-38,
Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.
When we drink of the living water that Jesus offers, the Son of the Living God lives in us, tabernacles with us. We want all generations to know that He brought us out of our sin and bondage and that He gives us forgiveness and a Comforter. Let’s celebrate and rejoice in the abundance of all that God has provided for us!
Consider how you can joyfully tell future generations of God’s guidance and provision. You might be offering rivers of living water to a thirsty soul in the desert.
Thank you, Lord, for giving us reminders of Your love and provision and faithfulness especially when we feel like we are wondering in the desert. Thank you for tabernacling with us. Amen.
© 2014 by Dallas P. Paetzold. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Thursday, 08 December 2016.
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